Strangers To Lovers

Chapter Fourty-Five

While Luke and I were on our way to work that morning, Donna inquired about the state of affairs in the Lanley realm, asking if everything was back to normal. Luke grinned at her. "So, you're saying everything is alright now in the Lanley universe?" he teased, his fingers grazing mine as if the very touch held some secret reassurance.

Donna smirked. "You guys are definitely more drama-oriented than a TV show," she replied. Luke chuckled and squeezed my hand a little tighter.

"I swear, our lives could easily become a Lifetime movie," Luke mused, glancing at me with a gleam in his eye. "Strangers to Lovers... sounds like something we could sell, right?" His voice was playful, but there was a current of seriousness beneath it, like he was really thinking about how wild everything had become between us.

Donna rolled her eyes, but a smile played at her lips. "I mean, that title is tacky, but sure, why not?"

I looked out the window, feeling the weight of Luke's hand in mine. The rain began to patter against the glass, even though the weather app had promised clear skies. "I'll admit," I said quietly, "the title was kind of tacky." Luke let out a laugh, a deep rumble that vibrated through me.

"I’ve got to get to work," Luke said, his smile dimming a little as he leaned over and kissed my forehead. "Channing will pick you up later, okay?"

I nodded, not wanting to let go of his hand. "Be careful today," I murmured, even though I knew his biggest challenge of the day would be dealing with his mother. There was something heavier in the air—something unsaid that made me feel like we were on the edge of a storm.

Luke rocked back on his heels before turning toward the door. "I love you," he said, his voice low. He didn’t wait for me to respond before he was out the door, leaving me alone with Donna.

"Girl, you’re practically glowing," Donna said, sidling up to me with a knowing grin. "That boy’s got you all wrapped up."

I couldn’t help but smile, though a pang of guilt tugged at me. "It’s complicated, Donna. Everything is... it’s not like the fairytales or whatever Lifetime special Luke was joking about."

Donna tilted her head, her brow furrowing as she watched me. "What’s up? You look like you’ve got something heavy on your mind."

I sighed, turning my back to her as I began wiping down the counters. "It’s not just about Luke. It’s about everything—Levi, his mother, even Dylan." I paused, glancing at her to gauge her reaction. "Donna, Dylan hid something huge from me. I don’t know how I’m supposed to trust him after this."

Donna’s eyes widened. "Wait, what? What did Dylan hide from you?"

I hesitated before spilling everything, telling her about how Dylan had kept important details about the accident hidden. "What else could he be hiding if he was willing to lie about something like that?" I asked, my voice thick with frustration.

Donna took a deep breath. "Dylan doesn’t seem like the type to do something malicious. Maybe he was just trying to protect you." She softened, her voice low. "But I get it. I’d be pissed too if someone I trusted kept secrets like that."

I swallowed hard. "I don’t know if I can ever see him the same way again."

She looked at me thoughtfully. "Do you want to?"

I froze, her question hanging in the air. "I... I don’t know."

Donna pressed her lips together, contemplating for a moment. "Look, we all have baggage, Ella. Maybe Dylan made a bad call, but it sounds like he was trying to help, not hurt."

Just then, the bell above the door jingled, signaling a new customer. I glanced up and saw Dylan standing there, dressed more casually than I had ever seen him before. A light tan cable-knit sweater clung to his broad frame, paired with black jeans that made him look far more approachable than his usual sharp suits. My stomach twisted with a strange mix of anger and... something else.

Donna gave me a sidelong look. "Speak of the devil."

Dylan walked up to the counter, his eyes immediately locking with mine. "Morning, Ella," he said, his voice softer than usual. He turned to Donna, nodding slightly in greeting. "Donna."

I could feel the tension in the air as Dylan stood there, waiting for me to say something. I hesitated, biting my lip.

"I... didn’t expect to see you here," I said, my voice barely above a whisper.

Dylan smiled weakly. "I didn’t want to ambush you, but I needed to talk. I owe you an explanation."

I crossed my arms, leaning against the counter as I stared him down. "An explanation for why you thought it was okay to keep something like that from me?"

He exhaled, running a hand through his hair. "I didn’t know how to tell you. I was trying to protect you."

"Protect me from what?" I snapped, my frustration bubbling over. "From the truth?"

Dylan’s expression crumbled. "From the fallout, Ella. I didn’t want to drag you into something so messy. I was trying to shield you, not betray you."

Donna stepped back, giving us space but clearly listening to every word.

"Do you have any idea how it feels to be kept in the dark by someone I thought I could trust?" My voice shook as I spoke, and I hated how vulnerable I sounded. "You didn’t even give me a choice."

Dylan’s eyes softened. "I know, and I’m sorry. I’m not asking for you to forgive me right away, but I need you to know I never meant to hurt you."

I looked away, biting the inside of my cheek. I wasn’t ready to forgive him, but the sincerity in his voice made it hard to stay mad.

"I just need some time, Dylan," I finally said. "I don’t know how to feel right now."

Dylan nodded, his expression resigned. "Take all the time you need. I’ll be here when you’re ready."

There was a long pause, and Donna finally cleared her throat, breaking the silence. "Okay, I think we’ve had enough drama for one morning. How about we get back to work before this turns into a soap opera?"

I chuckled despite myself, and Dylan smiled, the tension easing just a little. "Yeah, I should probably get going anyway."

Before he left, he turned to Donna. "It was nice seeing you too, Donna."

Donna gave him a half-smile. "Yeah. Same."

As Dylan walked out the door, I let out a long sigh, my shoulders slumping. "That was... intense."

Donna patted my shoulder. "Girl, you handled that like a pro."

"I don’t feel like a pro," I muttered, running a hand through my hair. "I feel like a mess."

Donna grinned. "Welcome to the club. But seriously, Ella, if you need to talk, I’m here."

"Thanks," I said softly, genuinely grateful for her support.

The rest of the day passed in a blur of customers and orders, but the conversation with Dylan lingered in the back of my mind. As the sun began to set and the rain slowed to a drizzle, I couldn’t help but wonder what was next—for me, for Luke, for all of us.

There were so many pieces of this puzzle still missing, and I knew we weren’t anywhere close to figuring it all out. But one thing was clear: I wasn’t going to let any of this tear us apart.

Not if I could help it